# The French Connection Review

> 1971's 'The French Connection' wins best director, actor, and picture at Oscars.
- Title: The French Connection Review · The Hollywood Reporter
- Summary: 1971's 'The French Connection' wins best director, actor, and picture at Oscars. William Friedkin's 1971 film 'The French Connection' won five Academy Awards…
- Keywords: the french connection, william friedkin, gene hackman, academy awards, 20th fox, heroin smuggling, marseilles, don ellis, French, Connection, Review, The Hollywood Reporter
- Source: The Hollywood Reporter — https://hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/french-connection-review-movie-1236726151
- Author: Craig Fisher
- Published: 2026-10-09T12:58:19+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: the french connection, william friedkin, gene hackman, academy awards, 20th fox, heroin smuggling, marseilles, don ellis
## The French Connection Release
The French Connection premiered in theaters on Oct 9, 1971, by 20th-Fox.
## Academy Award Nominations
The French Connection earned eight nominations at the 44th Academy Awards, winning five including best director, actor, writing, editing, and picture.
## New York Popularity
The film was doing land-office business in New York after three weeks of release.
## Heroin Smuggling Thriller
The French Connection follows a police investigation into a heroin smuggling operation set mostly in New York.
## William Friedkin's Direction
William Friedkin directed The French Connection after previous films including The Birthday Party and The Boys in the Band.
## Notable Chase Sequence
The film features a high-speed chase where Marcel Bozzuffi is in an elevated train with his pistol at the conductor’s head.
## Key takeaway

William Friedkin's 1971 film 'The French Connection' won five Academy Awards including best director and acting.